Irvine Valley's women's basketball team got its 2013-14 season off to a rousing start with a 78-61 win over College of the Canyons in the opening round of the Rose City Classic at Pasadena City College on Thursday.
The Lasers were ranked 18th in the state heading into the game. Canyons was ranked 15th.
Irvine Valley was in front basically from the start and led, 37-19, at halftime. Sophomore guard Kiara King made a three-quarter length of the court shot with two seconds left in the half to put the Lasers in front by 18.
IVC led by double digits nearly the entire second half. The closest Canyons got was nine points with nine minutes left.
But the Lasers increased their lead from there and won going away.
Four players scored in double figures for IVC, led by freshman forward Alexis Casillas.
She finished with a game-high 29 points. Casillas also had a team-best three three-pointers. She added eight rebounds and two steals.
Sophomore forward Taylor Casey finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, King chipped in 12 points, five rebounds and four steals and sophomore guard Jasmine Kennon had 11 points and nine rebounds
Freshman center Breanna Turner contributed four points for the Lasers.
IVC moved on to play in the semifinals on Friday against Long Beach City, which knocked off Citrus in another game on Thursday.
The Lasers will take on Long Beach at 6 p.m. on Friday with a trip to the finals on the line.